It is only May and the presidential election is already heated. Congratulations Oregon for voting in this year's primary! As I’m sure many of you have heard, both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump were the winners of their respective parties. It seems that Oregon really “Felt the Bern," although Hillary Clinton remains the “favorite” nominee of the Democratic Party. I am happy to report that over half a million people voted in this primary. I hope that this type of civic involvement persists! I know that many Millennials have come under fire recently for failing to register to vote, so I want to remind everyone that it is possible to register to vote for the presidential election on Election Day. However, for all other types of elections, one must register to vote 30 days prior to the election. I hope that this election spurs many people to vote in both federal and state elections, as both local and national issues affect our day-to-day lives.

This year is also the gubernatorial election in the State of Oregon and these candidates should also be carefully assessed by voters. The last governor of Oregon, John Kitzhaber, stepped down in February of 2015. So this year is a special chance to vote for a new governor to replace him in the last two years of his term. I would like to remind all of my readers to get involved in local issues! Like the movement for increased minimum wage or the universal background checks initiative, which requires background checks for all firearm purchases.

Voting on these types of issues is as much part of one’s right and privilege as a citizen as voting for the presidential election. These smaller issues, while they may seem minor in comparison to national policy plans, still can affect our general quality of life in a number of ways. If you have a strong political stance against certain issues, it is imperative that you support the groups who embody your beliefs. So, if you haven't already, go out and register to vote! The State of Oregon should have mailed you a voter’s packet if you are registered in this state, and if not, you should contact them immediately to request a ballot.

A few quick tips for this election:

1. Do not take a picture of your ballot and post it online! This will invalidate your vote. Please, please keep any photographic evidence of your ballot from social media, although it may be tempting. Instead, you can just state your political stance online.
2. While it is possible to write-in a candidate on an electoral ballot, this may not be the most effective use of your vote. In fact, five states, including Hawai’i, do not accept write-in ballots and many other states require sworn statements upon submission of a write-in ballot. Research your state’s voting laws to be sure, but remember that writing in a candidate does not always work.
3. In fact, check the voting laws of your state. Each state has slightly different laws regarding primaries, the general election, and registration to vote. These laws are not nationally universal and so everyone should check to make sure that they are properly registered in their state of residence.
4. In addition, it is illegal to register to vote in multiple states. You must choose to register in one state and one state only. If you move states, you should cancel your voter registration and re-register in the other state. Again, these laws vary by state, so you should always check the voter registration laws.

All in all, voting is both a civic privilege and duty as an American citizen. Do some research and make sure that you understand the candidates and the voting laws before the general election on Nov. 4!

For more information about voting, a great place to start is: http://www.eac.gov/default.aspx.